A year in retrospect: the Top 10 Stories of 2013

Well, there you have it folks, another year officially in the books. 2013 was pretty stellar here at Snowboard Mag, and we feel the need to pay homage to the top 10 stories we created this year, as determined by your views and likes. Soundtracks, video roundups, Ultra Natural victors, and next-level gear; take a quick trip back through the highlights of 2013.

1. Soundtracks: Kevin Pearce’s The Crash Reel

The Crash Reel, a profound look at how a 2008 crash changed the life and career of Kevin Pearce, and how his ordeal inspired the creation of his #LoveYourBrain foundation. The soundtrack for the movie is appropriately powerful, and absolutely worth the download.

2. The highlight reel: 15 of the best snowboard movies of all time

Back in Black, The Community Project, True Life, The Garden, Transcendence, Haakonsen Faktor & more; a wrap up of 15 snowboard movies that left our minds blown, jaws on the floor, and stoke to ride at an all time high.

3. Top 10 snowboard graphics of this year

In order to up the ante year over year, board companies put in the hours to seek out top artists and create shreddable works of art. Now it’s time to give credit where credit is due, and show off the graphics that we consider to be the best of 2014.

4. Spirit of Snowboarding with Travis Rice

“Snowboarding has taught me how to become empowered, but it has also taught me humility. I think there’s a lot of people out there with a lot of incredible ideas and insight, but in the end, that number gets greatly reduced by the fact that it takes going the extra mile and doing the hard work to see them through.” This story is all about what snowboarding means to one of snowboarding’s most impressively progressive forces.

5. Basecamp Breckenridge: The Bivvi puts a new spin on old school mountain lodging

Hot tub, fire place, fire pit, and a seriously sweet chandelier made of blue antlers; The Bivvi has style. Throw in a location just a short walk from both Peak 9 and main street Breck, and you’ve got yourself one prime place to stay.

6. Light up the night with the Nike LunarENDOR Quick Strike Boot

What do you get when you take one of snowboarding’s most advanced boots, the Nike LunarENDOR and add 30 LEDs to one of the most recognizable logos around the world? The Nike LunarENDOR Quick Strike.

7. Turn off your cell phone and ride – Mike Basich explores Iceland

“When I look back at 20-plus years of traveling and chasing the prefect snowflake, I realize how much we have changed versus the snow. My best memories are that of showing up somewhere with no idea of what to expect – something that seems to be less and less a part of traveling these days.”

8. 30 Epic snowboard images among Red Bull Illume 2013 finalists

6,417 different photographers from 124 countries submitted 28,257 images to the 2013 Red Bull Illume, and of the 250 finalists, 30 incredible snowboarding photos made the Illume’s prestigious top 250 list. Easily some of the most unreal snowboarding photos we’ve ever seen— do yourself a favor, and take a look.

9. Gigi Rüf wins Red Bull Ultra Natural

Gigi Rüf topped the podium at the second annual Red Bull Ultra Natural, taking on “Scary Cherry,” a run at BC’s Baldface Lodge that was crafted by Travis Rice and Red Bull into an incredible contest course that boasted both natural and man made features. The ever-humble Rüf simply said, “I don’t know, I definitely got lucky…I don’t really consider myself a ‘winner,’ I believe in luck and coincidence.”

10. The view from the other side: Pro skier Jossi Wells gets on board

Trading in his poles for a board, twin-tipper Jossi Wells has proven that his skills on skis translate pretty nicely into a sweet little bag of tricks on a snowboard. Wells has proven that he can hold his own from park to powder; just put this kid on snow, and he’ll make it happen.